An Unexpected Interruption [Job/Vardreth]

Job Details:

Chang Yun awoke early in the morning, yawning and stretching out in his cot. The cold air of the morning kept him from wanting to leave the comfort of his blankets, however the knowledge of his responsibilities were much greater. Hopping out, Chang Yun's eyes moved over to a book nearby and a light smile crossed his face. Welp, time to start the day! Although he thought that, the sun had not yet rose from the east, and as such it was still fairly dark outside. Even so, as a new member of the mercenary company, Chang Yun was expected to do many menial tasks. Cooking, cleaning, sanitation control. Any aspect he was poor at, he would be heckled for until he improved to an acceptable degree of mastery.

By itself, that was something to be expected... Yet due to his involvement with Bai Xue'er, Chang Yun found himself the target of some jealousy. He was one of two, the only other being his brother, who had the comfort of a woman while on the job. Smiling, Chang Yun happily thought to himself Let them be jealous! I'm happy enough to be able to work and to be able to live alongside her. The happy look lingered on his handsome face as he headed towards the food storage tent. There, as if simply thinking would summon the person of his thoughts, stood Bai Xue'er.

She smiled softly towards Chang Yun. "Good, you're here. I've heard others say that your cooking is pretty good, even for simple things... Mind showing me the ropes?" It was rare for Bai Xue'er to ask for help from him. Most of what he could do, so could she... Yet cooking was never something she picked up when she was being trained as a war slave. While the mercenaries gave her face because she was a woman, Bai Xue'er was not so thick headed as to not realize her own shortcomings without being told as much by others.

Striking a pose with his right arm flexed and his left hand smacking the muscle of it before gripping the spot it landed, Chang Yun spoke in good humor. "Just leave it to me! I may not be excellent, but I've learned a thing or two!" Cooking was actually a great interest to him ever since he was freed from the Ji clan's control. It was the smell of the food cooked by one of the magicians that had caused Chang Yun to discover the wonders of one who could cook delicious food. It was an older man, the magician, who showed him kindness and taught him how to cook. Xiang Li was his name.

If Vardreth knew Chang Yun's thoughts of Xiang Li as a kind individual, he would immediately choke on whatever he was drinking.

It was just that Chang Yun's demeanor was subservient that Xiang Li thought him to be pleasing enough company.

Chang Yun directed Bai Xue'er to gather some simple ingredients including salted duck egg, green onion and rice. As he did so, he also gathered a few spices he was taught could be used in the dish. It was a rice congee that Chang Yun was aiming for, and the spices would give it a decent flavor. The two returned to their assigned platoon and began by starting the fire. While cooking, Chang Yun gave instructions. "And don't forget to have a small taste after you've seasoned and stirred it. How can you know it's good without tasting it first?" As he said this, he tried a bit himself and furrowed his brow.

Chang Yun fed some to Bai Xue'er. There was nobody up yet, as breakfast was normally the start of the day. "See how the flavor is still weak? We'll add a bit more seasoning to the pot and stir it up some more before seeing if that fixes it..."

Before long, the two completed the cooking of it and the smell wafted through the tents. The other platoons each had their own people on cooking duty, and naturally they were in a similar process as Chang Yun and Bai Xue'er. Other mercenaries had begun to wake up and leave their tents. "Oi, rookie, I hope your head wasn't too far in the clouds. I swear if your food is inedible I'll dress you down as if I were the captain." Other mercenaries, seeing the situation, laughed.

Bai Xue'er rolled her eyes before looking over at Chang Yun, who was smiling wryly at the actions of the others. They certainly did give him a hard time, however there was no true malice that was being acted out on. As everyone began eating, they were neither ecstatic nor disgusted by the food, giving Chang Yun a passing grade. There were other mercenaries who, despite having been with the band for some time, could not confidently say the same of themselves.

Grunting, the man from earlier spoke up. "I suppose this isn't as bad as the Captain's was when he started." An uproar of laughter came from the others as those that had tried it recalled the disgusting concoction made by Fang Vardreth.

Chang Yun shook his head, amused...

---

Chang Jun finished eating before stretching himself out and limbering up. They would be performing a mock battle today, and Chang Jun wanted to make sure he was completely ready for it. Looking over to his right, Chang Jun's gaze met Lian Ling's. The man was tired, having spent the night training with her. Chang Jun understood on an instinctual level that personal strength was very different from military strength, however he truly began to learn this when he was added into Fang Vardreth's band of mercenaries. Unlike the Ji clan, who were only interested in creating killers, the military required much more unity.

But that was not a strength that would ever be his alone. To guarantee his safety, and the safety of those he loved, he would have to become much stronger.

With a steady smile and nod, Chang Jun moved his sight to the forefront. Everyone was picking up gear, though blades and the like were wooden for this mock battle... Arrows had flat heads instead of pointed, and magicians were not going to be participating in this particular exercise. Chang Jun put on some light armor, grabbed a wooden shield and walked in rank. Today it would be the ninth platoon against the tenth platoon on one field, the eleventh and twelfth in another, and the thirteenth and fourteenth in the last.

They had all gone through most basic training, with the exception of Chang Jun whose training was different from the rest and only had a superficial understanding. That being said, there was plenty of yelling and shouting to correct his mistakes. The two sides clashed, quickly entering melee, and Chang Jun found himself face-to-face with an opposing team member.

Focused, Chang Jun fought. His skill in a one versus one was stronger than that of his opponent, however just as he was about to land a finishing blow he saw that his ally's flank was open and under attack. Ditching the strike after having been reprimanded in the past for not working as a team, Chang Jun quickly moved his shield to intercept the blow from his ally.

The man flashed him a smile and struck aside another blow with his shield before using his sword to open up Chang Jun's enemy.

Eyes wide, Chang Jun took the attack and 'defeated' his opponent. As the battle dragged on a signal was given to his squad; those at the front line would fall back while those behind them would continue to fight, a much fresher group of soldiers. Like clockwork the lines behind Chang Jun opened up and shifted, allowing the to retreat while quickly walking backwards. The lines closed up once more as Chang Jun and the rest returned to the back to catch their breath. Some had fallen already, but for the most part everyone was doing fairly well.

Chang Jun received a clap on his shoulder. "Hey, thanks for looking out for me back there, newbie. You're catching on quick." Afterwards the man looked sharp once more, keeping an eye out on the surroundings. A veteran of these trainings, the man knew that at any time there could be an 'unknown factor' thrown into the mix. Extra platoon of horsemen coming from the side? A sudden disengage and the second portion of the enemy platoon being archers? These types of scenarios happened from time to time, and everyone had their hand in trying out the different tactics available to them.

Chang Jun had nodded back to the man before doing the same. His improvements couldn't be considered small, however it was mostly due to the foundation that was already laid out before him. The use of weapons and shields was not new to him, so his integration with the rest of the team was going fairly smoothly.

The exercises continued well into the day before afternoon came about and half the group had been rotated through...

---

While the soldiers and drillmasters were working hard in the fields, Vardreth and other members of the command structure of the army were talking strategies in the command tent. A large map was sitting upon the table; there were a few different scenarios the group could simulate, however the one they chose this time was similar to the locale they chose. Open field tactics. Archers and horsemen were useful, with engineers being worthwhile as well. Vardreth spoke to the others, discussing the uses of the Magicians in setting up fortifications and traps, and how to provide a cover screen.

Others spoke of holes in the logic, which everyone worked together to cover. It was an old and beaten subject, but war was much like a board game of Go, Shogi or Chess. Guessing your enemy's moves ahead of time, the one who could see furthest into the future would become the victor.

OOC:

Job word count = 1600+/1500.

Continuing with the meeting, Vardreth and his officers went through many more variations. It was closing in towards noon, and they had done enough theory crafting for now. "Okay, lets take to the field. Let those who have been working get their lunch and for the next four hours we will see how the soldiers are doing." While it was important to think of strategies and tactics, as well as their counters, it was also important to familiarize themselves with the troops.  

Vardreth's size didn't particularly stand out in a positive way, however with the commanders heading over as a group the soldiers were bound to catch them. Considering they were caught directly during transition, the soldiers stopped where they stood and deeply saluted the commanders. Vardreth and the other military officers returned the salute, though it was less deep depending on their authority, with Vardreth's salute being the most shallow of the group. Giving them leave to continue, Vardreth kept them under his watchful eye. Vardreth caught a glimpse of Chang Yun in the middle of a unit. He seemed to be doing fairly well.

As expected. That Ji clan beat a strong foundation into its war-slaves. Hmm. He looks to be at better standards than the normal soldier. Maybe we should consider giving that group officer training... Vardreth watched as the next set of drills were performed, which included training to set them off against a cavalry. Of course, due to the danger of doing an actual clash, the soldiers on horse back did not go all the way. There was a moment when the foot soldiers feared they would, however, as Vardreth lead the charge with an overbearing aura.

Finally the day came to an end and the soldiers ate a hearty dinner. For many soldiers, this was the period of time in which they wound down, enjoying their evenings with stories and socialization. This was not something he, as a commander, stuck around for. To maintain professionalism, Vardreth didn't like to build direct relationships with all of the soldiers. A hand-picked few officers? Fine. But the regular soldiers? Unlikely. With that being said, Vardreth took care of his own. When it came to disputes, Vardreth wouldn't let his men suffer a loss.

Vardreth nodded towards Zeriken. "I will be heading over to the valley, two miles north, and getting in tune with this blade from Grandpa Fang. If anything happens, send Benai to update me." He had been wanting to explore the powers of the blade for some time now, yet hadn't had the opportunity. Knowing of the valley a few kilometers out, Vardreth figured that would be as good a place as any to train. There wouldn't be a whole lot of people that could observe, either.

On foot, Vardreth made his way. Eventually he began to jog as he left the sight of the camp, and then he began to run. The speed was incredible, traveling as fast as a horse would, and the Mercenary Captain's stamina was beyond that of a normal human. If others saw him they would be shocked to see somebody with such short legs moving so quickly, and a human no less. Some may think that Vardreth was truthfully a Fanalis who had dyed his hair a different color. By the time Vardreth reached the valley the sun had already set.

Unsheathing his blade, Vardreth walked into the valley. The Mercenary Warrior closed his eyes as he walked forward and listened to the wind as it rustled the ankle-high grass beneath his feet. Breathing deeply through his nose, Vardreth felt at one with nature around him. Slowly he circulated magoi throughout his body, feeling the familiar routes it took. Everything within his body was just fine - there were no blockages to his energy, and he was in peak condition. The magoi traveled from his body and into the blade as Vardreth began contemplating the weapon in his hands. Slowly he began to move; half step to the right, retreating lunging pierce to the left. Flourish towards the back, sweeping half-moon slash to his right. Vardreth's movements were fluid as he tried to gain an understanding of the blade.

Slowly his thoughts seemed to gravitate to an idea. Images flashed through his mind as his inspiration towards the use of the blade flowed through him. Suddenly Vardreth paused, his forms completely freezing as if time had stopped. His blade was raised, as if he were about to slash diagonally, from left to bottom right. His left arm was held behind his back, and Vardreth was squared off towards the other end of the valley.

Eyes suddenly opened as if time started once more, Vardreth's blade slashing down and to the right. The first activation of the blade's function occurred, a dragon formed around Vardreth as if swallowing him whole. Vardreth did not move an inch, yet this transparent dragon uncoiled and began to fly forward. Vardreth began to fly upward. So... This is what it is like to look down at the earth from the sky. He had seen the ground from atop his horse's back when it jumped in the past, however there was a grand difference between the height of the horse's jump and the height of the flight.

Vardreth let out another sigh. The moon was already up high, with it being two hours into the night. Before he knew it, a good chunk of time had passed. Vardreth's insights into the blade converged, the dragon created from the magic of the blade opened its maw and a strange force began to consume everything in front of that mouth. Being so high up in the air, nothing was drawn to its mouth, yet Vardreth felt the strength of this technique and knew it to be powerful. It resonated with his body, causing a strange sensation. There is much more to this blade than just this... Just like his previous sword Desceld, Vardreth could feel that he had only scratched the surface of Eir's capabilities.

Vardreth descended back down to the valley, once more on his feet. The energy that created the invisible dragon had not yet dissipated...

OOC:
Magoi: 355/390
Stamina: 440/440

WC for training 1st ability on Eir: 1025/1000

Ability Trained:

Abilities used:

Two men stood alongside each other, one young and one old. Each held a staff in their hands - the markings of a Magician. The backs of their robes were similarly marked with a symbol, denoting the word 'Shu'. It would only take a moment for one to recognize this symbol as a family name. "Little Jie, that child over there is Fang Vardreth." Though strength magic was nearly invisible to most, Magicians had the capability to see the magic in its forms. The old man had just spoken, looking towards the young adult beside him. "He looks to be familiarizing himself with the magical blade, Eir. That useless old man, Fang Mu, used to use it quite well... But I think it could find better uses than in the hands of this family...." The old man smiled, ill intent suffused within his words. He recalled the letter he received from Fang Mu some months back, advising the man's grandson was on a journey, and to make sure to 'take care' of him.

Hmph. Trying to use the Shu family to temper your grandchild in the world of red dust? I'll take this opportunity for my own grandson... And maybe get a chance at one of your legendary blades. The old man sneered as he thought of his grandson's victory.

The young man in question had a serene look upon his face, however this only masked the excitement boiling in his blood. Young people were meant to be reckless, after all. He watched as Vardreth flew back down into the valley before turning to his grandfather. "Grandpa Shu, I will gladly contest against this warrior. Do you mind to enlighten me on this blade's abilities?" As the successor of the clan, this young man dared to make such a request of the old man before him. He was well doted upon, and had countless resources and attention focused upon his growth.

The old man nodded, smiling with delight upon his face. "Yes, Little Jie. The blade he uses, Eir, is the highest quality weapon that I know can be forged. Aside from its incredible edge, it has five supreme spells and the capability of flight." The capability of flight alone was enough to mitigate the advantage Magicians had against warriors, allowing the man below to not be pressured into being unable to close the distance. Five supreme spells? For the old man to describe them as such, Shu Jie Long knew them to be incredibly powerful. Perhaps his strongest of spells could only decrease the opposition's power, and not stop it. The old man continued. "The spell we just saw him use is like a vortex, pulling upon all in its path and using the jaws of the dragon to split people apart."

Just describing the spell was enough to give the young man a sense of respect. It wasn't that he feared the spell, simply that its strength was something that could not be discounted. Old Man Shu continued to speak, describing the inner workings of the spell to Shu Jie Long. The advantage a magician had over a warrior was that they understood the intrinsic qualities of the magic being used. "Next is the aura of gravity control. You have a very similar spell as well, so I do not think you need to be explained the concepts behind this spell. It is one that allows the user to increase or decrease the gravity around the area. It should have roughly between ten and twenty meters effective range." The man did not hold back as he spoke, though he didn't go into many details with this particular spell.

"After that is a gravity wave, with absolute force it crushes all that is within its path. You can only curse your poor ability if you get caught up within it and are unprepared." Truthfully, even if Shu Jie Long had not asked about the abilities of the weapon, the old man would have told his grandson regardless. The danger in this fight was not the type of danger one would normally encounter... Though the Grandpa Shu had his own thoughts on how much Vardreth had mastered up to this point, he would not take chances. "Following that is an interesting ability; it extends weapon strikes and gives control of flight to thrown weapons. While underwhelming, with the appropriate setup it could be devastating. I do not think you will need to fear much from this spell, however do keep an eye on it." The spell was straightforward and did not need much explanation.

Shu Jie Long listened intently, nodded here and there, and expressing a look of respect for the magic weapon. He still did not know the strength of Fang Vardreth himself, and as such he was primarily concerned about the weapons the man used. "Grandpa Shu, I know there are more abilities yet, but... His handling of the sword itself... What level do you think it would be at?"

This interruption caused Grandpa Shu to pause. Frowning, the man considered the words before responding. "It is no secret that he has scorned his own son, refusing to give him any face at all. The saying 'A tiger father will not beget a dog son' was disproved by him, after all!" The old man laughed, extremely pleased. He had been suppressed those years when Fang Mu ran rampant, and was gratified to see that the useless old man hadn't an inheritor for his skills. Still, that caused Grandpa Shu to frown. "Now that this child has shown up with that old thing's weapons, we can only imagine that this Fang Vardreth can only be stronger, and not weaker or equal to his father! Remember, as the warrior equivalent he is either your equal in attainments or better. Never drop your guard!" The thought caused the old man to shiver. His grandson was quite young as well, being only 23 this year, yet before them stood a perverse child who had yet to break into his twenties and was already at least the equal of his own grandson.

"Continuing from where I left off, the last ability of that blade is to create sixteen force dragons infused with the power of gravity. These dragons can seem harmless, but looks can be deceiving. Some can come with great power if stacked together, and if used with more strength it can even cause this Grandfather of yours a headache if faced head-on... Yet the heavens are fair, Little Jie. Once they have been created and start to move, they cannot change direction. This type of spell can be fatal to those Goi who cannot see it, but for us it isn't too terrible." With all this being spoken, the old man patted the successor's back.

Shu Jie Long bowed to his grandfather after having listened to all the explanations. "This Jie Long will not disappoint, Grandpa Shu!" With that being said, the man took his leave and began to move towards the very same valley Vardreth was training within.

---

Without knowing he was being watched, Vardreth continued to go through a number of kata - movements that acclimated the body to the movements performed during attacks. This extended use, with his magoi constantly flowing into the weapon and back into his body, was Vardreth's way of understanding the magic weapons he came to own. The grass swayed with his footwork. Crisp, powerful, fast and succinct were all ways to express his powerful blows. His upper body twisted, leaned, stretched. Every fiber of his body was being dedicated to the sword.

In his mind, Vardreth slowly superimposed enemies upon the field before him. This was a higher format of training, mastered only by those who had a great deal of experience or a strong mind. Though none of his opponents could truthfully hurt him, he would be able to gain experiences off of this fight as if he were truly fighting against an opponent. The strength of his 'opponents' were only limited by his knowledge and world view.

As if he were on a field of combat, Vardreth weaved. His blade flashed, left and right. Again, a flickering of insight appeared within Vardreth's mind. Immediately the draconic aura appeared around Vardreth, providing him with flight that was on par with his fastest sprinting speed. With this increase of speed and maneuverability, Vardreth was like a tiger that had been given wings. Simply destroying a small army was not impossible for him, and so he imagined a larger scale group of enemies. Their blows, while weak, were many. Surrounded, Vardreth felt a calling within his blade. Its true Majesty was unleashed at that time, causing the ground to crater downward as the gravity became much more powerful around the warrior. The soldiers could not approach him, and the archer's arrows immediately fell into the earth when they got within range of the magic.

I see... The power to control gravity, is it? This went beyond simply making things heavier, but also making things lighter. Changing this back and forth, while in combat with an opponent, would cause the opponent's tempo to be interrupted. As soon as they got used to operating in a heavier gravity field, if one turned it lighter they would be overcompensating. The opposite was true as well; no longer putting as much strength into their attack, when gravity increased again they would not be able to attack as they had been.

Truly a treacherous ability.

Vardreth looked at the ground before him, watching the crater made by the sheer weight of its own existence. Each and every blade of grass had been flattened, and much of the earth had turned to stone after condensing beneath the effects of the spell. With a flick of his wrist, and a thought of intent sent through the blade, the gravity became incredibly light and the dragon of force began flying next to him. Suddenly he felt much more powerful. It was not that his muscles grew more capable, but that the gravity forced upon his body became incredibly weaker. Bending his legs, Vardreth jumped. The dragon of force beside him was in flight, paving the way by continually making the gravity weak.

A jump that would normal only be a few meters turned into tens of meters, and yet before he began to fall the direction of gravity itself changed. Vardreth was flung into the air, as if gravity had increased but in the opposite direction. Ah... Of course, three dimensions exist. To only think gravity could be weakened or strengthened, but not changed to a different direction... How novel. All of these concepts were new to Vardreth as he explored their capabilities. He was like a newborn when compared to a magician, yet at the same time his capacity for understanding during something directly experienced could not be discounted.

This is... Almost like flight itself, yet much more unwieldy. To touch upon this realm of understanding in such a short period of time was a sign of his comprehension abilities. Yet this was always how Vardreth lived. Both his body and mind developed at a quick rate, and it was only his experiences, his wisdom, that was lacking. Vardreth slowly approached the ground once more, with gravity weakened so his landing was soft.

Kicking off the ground, Vardreth exploded forward. The dragon of force was flying behind him as he ran forward; the only point that was light in gravity was directly in front of Vardreth, while the rest help a deeper sense of gravity that condensed the ground behind him. This powerful explosion of force propelled the warrior forward. With gravity no longer a factor in slowing him down, there was only wind resistance. Should he compete against a Fanalis of a similar strength, Vardreth honestly felt that he would not lose out to them in terms of instantaneous movement.

Vardreth stopped and digested these new thoughts and abilities within his mind, getting comfortable with the thought of their capabilities.


OOC:

Stamina: 440/440
Magoi: 320/390

2008/2000 WC for ability training.

Ability Trained:

Abilities used:

A woman cloaked in the darkest of blues stood in a field at the dead of night. A hood covered her facial features and expressions, yet as the shadow of a cloud across the moon passed by she looked up. The silver light revealed a cold-looking face, yet a hidden current of expectation ran just beneath the surface. She could not be considered strong, as her muscles were not particularly developed, yet she had an obvious grasp of perseverance... This was punctuated by the large number of thin blades attached to the ends of her cloak.

Forty centimeters in height, five in width, an individual blade was not terribly big... Yet these thin blades were layered, one atop the other, totaling to a grand number of thirty two blades.

Beads of sweat dropped down her face as the woman recalled her work earlier in the military camp....

Flashback:

The sweat dripping from her face was from nothing more than the weight of the weapons she brought with her. Lifting up her wand, Lian Ling began to slowly fly up into the sky. Strength magic, though describing it as 'gravity' magic would more appropriate, provided her with flight. She began to slowly spin and her cape flowed in the air. Lian Ling's free hand reached to a string upon her waist before she loosened a knot and let go. Immediately the blades on her robe flew out. It was as if a tornado had picked up a number of weapons and began flinging them left and right; they did not have and particular aim, and even a novice could dodge the metal pieces so long as they cared to.

Even so, this was the setup for her magic combat style. Her primary magic type was Strength magic, adept at manipulating objects, as well as gravity itself. She focused, calling out to the Rukh and beseeching it to do her bidding. One by one the blades were covered by her spell until a total of eight were firmly within her magic's grasp. Casting a second spell, she began to float from hilt to hilt as a number of blades were lifted from within the ground. In this way she focused on being able to move while simultaneously maneuvering her flying blades. Her muscles were incredibly sore, having carried the weight up to this point, however a level of delight suffused the woman as she continued to increase the pace of her movements.

Lian Ling's goal was the complete domination of space around her. Something that would allow her to grasp the intricacies of combat. She had long since understood a key matter of combat; to control the flow of battle. Using her knowledge, her spells and her strength, Lian Ling was confident she would eventually become powerful enough to run toe-to-toe with the Ji clan just as Vardreth had some time ago. Even after hearing the words from her love and his brother, Lian Ling still had some doubts about just how powerful the mercenary leader was. Why would a truly strong individual work beneath others for money? Those with strength must have conviction!

She firmly believed the underlying cause of personal growth in strength. While Vardreth was tough on the soldiers, he clearly showed himself to be lax in all areas. She never saw him truly train, except on the occasions he ran mock fights with other soldiers here and there, nor had she ever seen him act with any degree of great strength. All of these thoughts were distractions for Lian Ling, who suddenly stumbled due to her thoughts wandering. Luckily none of the blades were flying in her direction - some continued a bit more forward than they should have, but other than slipping on the ground and catching herself nothing untoward happened.

Lian Ling refocused her efforts, stood still and brought the blades back to her. She knew there were improvements to more than just her ability to move and focus on her spell at the same time, however it was difficult to develop new ways of using a technique without facing a battle or obtaining inspiration. She slowly considered the ground around her, trying to think of how she would handle a squad of soldiers approaching her.

Lian Ling's eyes lit up as she let go of the spell from before and reformulated it. Her spell washed across the battlefield, covering all of the blades upon the ground. All thirty two blades glowed, yet none of them rose. Lian Ling nodded, jumping up once again and landing on the flat edge of one blade. She focused her mind, recalling the scene of the two groups of soldiers who were fighting in formation earlier. In her mind's eye one such formation overlapped reality. In no way were these soldiers real; all of them were simply a figment of her imagination. Even with her mental ability these soldiers seemed incorporeal, fading in and out of her 'sight'. To clearly imagine an opponent and what they would do, superimposing those actions within her eyesight, these were not things somebody of her level could do. Even so, what she currently had was enough to make do with.

Lian Ling imagined the soldiers fanning out into a circle, as if it were an ambush from ten sides. Her magic freely moved, blades being covered simultaneously firing out from the earth and returning back to the ground after passing through her imaginary enemies. Her body moved quickly, her mind moving even quicker, as there appeared gaps in her offensive. These gaps were quickly covered, her magic moving from one sword to the next. The field in which she stood was riddled with blades after all, making it a deadly trap for anyone who walked within them. In the moonlit night these blades glinted, reflecting a beautiful scene as Lian Ling continued to fight. Even with such a tight defense there was an enemy she 'noticed' too late, arriving at her front.

Operating the entire time under the assumption of being without a Borg, Lian Ling's mind moved a kilometer a second. With a quick intake of breath, Lian Ling tensed up as she used the flat end of one of the blades to push her out of the way, leaving it a close call between herself and her enemies. The illusionary soldier performed a reverse swing of his blade, aiming to still strike Lian Ling. A glint of light flashed through her eyes as a number of scenarios flashed through her mind. At first she considered moving her blade to intercept the blade of the enemy, however this was quickly discarded. Instead she found inspiration in the thought of going on the offensive in such a position. The use of agility-based techniques and defensive techniques are fine and all... But the best defense is a tyrannical offense! To defeat the opponent before the opponent defeated her... In other words, to kill faster than they can attack! The blade that had just helped her dodge her illusory opponent quickly changed direction, striking the man down before he could complete the swing of his sword.

As the realization that she had spent too much time on this opponent dawned upon her, Lian Ling imagined the encircling opponents to have reached too close. Creating a stairway made of the flat ends of the blades, Lian Ling quickly scaled these 'steps' and removed them from the ground level, leaving her illusionary opponents ground-bound.

From here, she would have complete dominance over swordsmen, allowing her to strike as she pleased from above. Letting the illusory soldiers dissolve from her thoughts, Lian Ling returned back to the ground. She was exhausted - both mentally and physically. She knew there was a glaring weakness to her taking to the air; archers, or other ranged oppositions. Right now she was tired, and couldn't move while imagining combat. Instead she brought her mind to the front of the problem, thinking on how to solve such an issue. A few minutes passed and she frowned. Time continued to drag on and the frown deepened. I could only hope to hide underground... But that is no way to fight... I would be without sight, and wouldn't be able to tell friend from foe...

The rukh fluttered about her as she entered a near trance-like state. Her thoughts fluttered as a gleam of light glittered within her eyes. A sharp intake of breath was heard in the dark night, Lian Ling seemingly having thought of something. "Tremor sense. Its weaknesses are those that tread the skies, yet if I were underground in the first place how would that matter at all? Furthermore, couldn't I simply take my allies with me?" In her peak strength she knew she could cast and maintain such a spell, yet at this time she did not have the confidence to do so. Not for the first time, at least. Sitting in a meditative stance, Lian Ling began to regulate her breathing and focus her energy...

---

Both Chang Yun and Chang Jun were stretched out. Their day of work was complete, having gone through quite a few drills. It built teamwork, muscle memory and familiarity with the field of battle. Still, the two of them knew this was not even a scratch upon the surface of the true face of warfare. And even more... They knew they would need to become stronger. Not only in order to keep themselves alive, but also to reduce the casualties of their comrades. "Brother... We should go and spar."

The sky had yet to become dark, and they had just finished a rough set of training that would leave an ordinary person exhausted. The two brothers were no ordinary people, however, and after nodding the older brother agreed. "Chang Yun, wars will always be dangerous. Becoming stronger is only the right thing to do. I can see now how you managed to become so much stronger. You know, you surprised me when we fought before in the arena. Before we had actually fought in the arena I could feel that you were stronger than you used to be, yet I had not realized you had closed the gap between the two of us." Chang Jun sighed with a rueful smile plastered across his face. The two silently left the camp, heading out for some additional training in order to burn the midnight oil.

"Do you think the captain had prepared for that fight? His entire demeanor was one of domination." Chang Yun spoke idly as they continued walking forward. It was something that had been on his mind for some time; where did Vardreth get his strength from? Chang Yun knew the man was younger than himself and his brother. Aside from the strange feeling of having somebody younger than you being much stronger, there was also the sense of mystery.

Chang Jun shrugged in response. "I couldn't really say. It seemed to me he had a response for everything. The flames, the poisons... Could we say that he had prepared specifically for the Ji clan, or did he always have counters to such tactics? Either way, his methods should be considered deep and powerful." Chang Jun didn't care much on the 'how' when it came to the preparations Vardreth came with when fighting, only the fact that he had such means available to him.

Chang Yun laughed. "Sure enough, luck is a type of strength too, I hear." The two continued moving and talking, the sun slowly setting. "If it's strength, I'm confident in myself right now... But if it is skill and technique, I still have a ways to go." Chang Yun had a distant look within his gaze, as if he were searching for the road to improve himself on.

"Yes, we both do. I was speaking to Zeriken a few days ago, looking for pointers while with Ling'er. He said one thing to focus on is the type of fighter you are. He said not only in war, but also in single combat, there are those who fight with thinking and others who fight with instinct." Chang Jun paused, looking askance upon his brother before continuing. "He said it would be good to figure out which one I was, and to develop myself in that direction. Either way requires experience to expound upon, and both paths have intersecting ground, but they are two distinct means of fighting. Tell me, which do you think you are? There was a somewhat playful smile on his handsome face. He felt if he knew anything about his brother, it was likely that he had the same path.

Chang Yun thought for a few moments, thinking back to his fights. "Hmm, okay, but we should both say it at the same time... When I count down to zero, we both say it. Three... Two... One... Zero!"

Turning to face each other, they both spoke at the same time.
"Instinct!"
"Instinct!"

The two stared at each other for a moment before they both laughed.  Chang Jun shook his head and commented again on an earlier subject. "If I had to say it, my instinct tells me Vardreth was lucky to have the preparations he did... But I also feel that even if he didn't, that man was not his opponent in the first place."

Chang Yun nodded. They had finally reached a good location; open and outside of the area of the tent. "I think here is as good a place as any." Off in the distance the two saw a valley, but neither of them decided to head that way. They both preferred the open area beneath the sky. Readying their weapons, the two began their personal training.

---

Shu Jie Long had made decent headway at this point, hiding close to the ground as he flew forward. He moved noiselessly, as if he were one with the world around him. His entire body was relaxed as he approached Vardreth from a blind spot behind him. To the Magician, there was a degree of arrogance. He knew magic theory, he also knew its applications. A Magician of his power, skill and breadth of knowledge had quite the arsenal available to him.

This was all bestowed upon him as inheritance. His family was a long line of Magicians; their studies were deep and profound. Every generation there were multiple students that attended classes in Magnostadt, taking what they learned back to the Shu clan. While small, the clan's power was strong and diverse, and Shu Jie Long was this clan's successor. Resources were spent on him, allowing him to grow into the powerful Magician he was today.

---

Vardreth breathed in and out, focusing heavily upon the sword in his hand. Furrowing his brow, he slowly untangled its capabilities. A light smile overcame him. Aha, this... This is an incredible weapon. This spell is quite powerful. Still sustaining the flight, yet hovering just above ground, Vardreth casually swung the blade to the right, the left, the front, and then the back. Carelessly, as he swung it behind him, he released the Dragon's Roar.

"Arugh..!" A grunt of pain came from behind Vardreth, alerting him to the presence of another...

OOC:
Stamina: 440/440
Magoi: 285/390
WC: 3100+/3000

Ability trained:

Abilities Used:

Shu Jie Long, prodigy, successor, monster. He was known to be the most prominent figure of his generation among the disciples of the clan... Yet even somebody as well regarded as Shu Jie Long would encounter bad luck once in a while. The sudden sight of a rolling wave of strength magic coming his way forced his pupils to contract to a pinpoint. His mind came to a standstill as a moment of crisis enveloped his mind; was he caught? No. His Borg quickly formed as the wave of magic came towards him.

The power of the strength magic pressed down upon him, threatening to destroy his Borg and him along with it. "Arugh..!" Jie Long grunted, trying to keep himself grounded in place. His eyes shot to the ground as he focused on his wand - his plan was to cast a spell and have the ground help hold him in place. Magic power rippled as he began speaking to the magoi, yet just as he was readying a spell his body blew backwards ten meters; simultaneously his defensive Borg shattered. His stomach roiled as he quickly looked back up towards Vardreth.

The man had turned around and saw him.

My element of surprise... Gone just like that?! Jie Long's expression became gloomy. What kind of dog shit luck is this? Sighing, Jie Long could only move forward.

"Eh? Who are you?" Vardreth's confusion was understandable. For one, the person had sneaked up behind him without him noticing; what was his background, to even desire to do so in the first place? Beyond daring to do it, the fact that he could do it was also cause for intrigue. Lastly, he managed to survive an incredibly strong blow from his blade. Though Vardreth hadn't experienced its power as the victim first hand, he certainly felt the ripple of energy flow through his blade. That was not something one could casually withstand, or even withstand if one put a lot of effort into it.

This was the source of Vardreth's question.

Shu Jie Long was equally confused. He had never met Vardreth before, yet both their families were at odds with one another. It must be known that Shu Jie Long's accomplishments made him a distinguished member of his family. With the markings of the Shu clan on his clothing, it would not take an expert to deduce his identity. Shu Jie Long furrowed his brows before shrugging. "I am Shu Jie Long, of the Shu family." Seeing Vardreth's vacant look continue, Jie Long's gloom deepened. He was certain Vardreth was pretending not to know who he was. "You..!" Though frustrated, Jie Long threw it away. Laughing coldly, he spoke a threat. "Your grandfather begged us not to cause trouble... But your ancestor, I, decided that weapon in your hands is wasted on you. I'll be taking it; if you know what's good for you, you'll drop it there and walk away."

Domineering and demanding. Shu Jie Long was infuriated with Vardreth not showing any recognition of who he was. His response was a naked insult; first he placed an emphasis upon the strength of their clan. Advising that Fang Mu had begged them not to cause trouble was implying their strength was at the degree which would call for such a thing. Jie Long continued, ridiculously asserting himself as being a founding member of Vardreth's family. This was a profaning of the man's family. Last was the threat. If not even Fang Mu was willing to deal with the Shu family, what type of assurance could Vardreth possibly have?

---

Benai and Bai Xue'er walked throughout the camp, the former in front of the latter. Bai Xue'er kept a respectful distance of three steps from Benai - the two were inspecting the camp. This inspection was nothing like a military inspection, however. The lenses, or rather the frame of mind, the two used were completely different. They looked for risks. Risks in the security of their camp, such as the degree of ease one could infiltrate their supply depot. The degree of how secure the horses were stabled, the alertness of those meant to stick to a post and keep watch and the overall layout of the encampment. The inner core and the outer core, as well as the fringes, were all inspected. This took quite a bit of time for the two to do. In fact, most of the afternoon was spent on this task alone. When the two returned it was Benai that spoke first.

"Show me what you've found." Benai pulled out a map and handed the woman a writing utensil. His intention was to see how skilled she was in catching opportunities. The more experienced individuals of their field were capable of catching far more than what those with less experience.

Bai Xue'er started from the center of the encampment, identifying any weaknesses she could find. As she moved outward there were more and more markings. As could be expected, the interior was much more well defended, maintained and alert than the exterior. When she was done, she set the utensil aside and looked up towards Benai. "This is what I was able to find..."

Benai, who was watching the entire time, slowly nodded his head. "Hm. Seventy percent." She had found seventy percent of what he had seen. Analyzing what was missed, Benai began to explain things he caught that were categorically overlooked by Bai Xue'er. In truth, there was no such thing as an 'impossible to penetrate' defense. Every expert had their own specialties, methods and tricks. The important thing to do was to minimize their weaknesses. Making it difficult for just anyone to infiltrate meant the enemy would have to pay a higher price to pull a trick against the encampment.

In small scale conflicts, this wouldn't mean much for individuals who have a personal vendetta. In war, however, manpower was also an important resource. Forcing the enemy to expend a more skilled individual would not only tie up that bit of manpower, but they also had the chance of discovering the individual and executing them, denying a valuable resource to the enemy. It was not easy training up skilled forces.

As such, simply advising of general types of infiltration that she missed, Benai did not go too deeply into individual situations. Giving an example of each was enough. "Now, options in tightening our defenses?" Theory crafting was an important tool in espionage. It allowed an individual to think up of multiple scenarios, how to approach and how to react. Somebody who was skilled and knowledgeable with theory crafting could slightly make up for missing experience. This could be seen in other fields as well, and could perhaps be quantified as 'raw talent' or sometimes even 'the genius quality'. Benai knew that Fang Vardreth and his master, Fang Mu, both had a heaven defying amount of this genius quality, allowing them both to have broken through common sense and achieve a degree of strength unnatural to their peers of the same generation.

For this question Bai Xue'er worked in the opposite direction, giving examples for areas of improvement. She included the additional areas Benai spoke of after giving them additional time for thought, as some of the concepts were newer to her. Solutions more often than not were first found with the people who carried out their orders, or even additional personnel to cover blind spots that were discovered before. Few were suggestions for additions or changes to the encampment's ramparts, walls or other structures and placement of tents.

When she finished speaking Benai nodded again. He then began discussing the merits and demerits of those changes with her, and then voiced a few suggestions he would make himself. Again, with these suggestions he would discuss both the good and the bad, and why they would be used as an alternative. It had to be said that his knowledge was diverse and deep, and the skill at which he spoke showed the great lengths Benai had gone through to study fortifications. Any agent of espionage would be versed in general on how to break through security, yet to be at the level where one could both destroy and create based off of analysis required a degree of mastery that reached the limits. The only thing that could hold such an individual back would be their knowledge, as their logic could fill in the rest.

These exercises lasted for a few hours before Benai and Bai Xue'er were done. Afterwards would be the next topic of tutoring. The knowledge their type had to have was beyond that of many others. Benai and Bai Xue'er arrived at a tent, with Benai simply opening it and entering. Immediately their noses were assailed by a variety of scents. There were a number of tools laid out upon the table top. An alchemical retort sat within a tripod, filled with a liquid. Beneath it was an oil-based fire, heating the liquid. The retort was, of course, attached to the collection flask that would hold the refined product within it. Neither Benai nor Bai Xue'er knew what was being refined.

Aside from the alembic, there was also a mortar and pestle. Its use was obvious; to grind and break up ingredients for use in a pill, medicine or poison. Next to that was a type of oven used in alchemy known as a calcinator. This was used to heat up solids and break them down without the involvement of a liquid. Aside from these, there was also a different apparatus altogether; the pill cauldron.

It was apparent that the individual was skilled in a number of different tools, styles and paths. Shelves of ingredients, both plant-based and animal-based, lined up across the edges of the room. They were all maintained within different flasks, with a label beneath it, and secured within wooden boxes. Some of the flasks were made of glass, some of jade, and others of stone. There was certainly a profound yet simple reasoning behind the difference in flask materials for each of the items. This maintained the allowance for a portable alchemic lab, as one only needed to slide the side back into its spot before loading them up on a carriage and moving out.

"Ah, right on time then, Benai? You wished to discuss medicines and poisons with one of the students, was it?" An old man looked up from some scrolls filled with details on a pill recipe. This was none other than Xiang Li, the pill master that Vardreth managed to pull into their mercenary company. The old man was bored, since lately Vardreth had been slacking in his studies, however there was at least some vindication in his presence at the military camp in that he still had others looking for him to teach them. The man was a monk of an alchemic order in the mountains, and had years of experience beneath his belt.

Benai nodded. "I would like her to make sure she knows three hundred apprentice poisons, their symptoms, their cures. Two hundred journeyman of the same, fifty master poisons and ten grand-master poisons." Benai never spoke much, and aside from discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the fortifications earlier, this could perhaps be considered one of his more verbose moments. Benai did not hold much back when training a disciple himself, knowing that they required a good deal of rapid discourse in order to soak everything in. Even so, he still maintained a professional silence.

While he could simply modulate his voice, Benai preferred to speak as little as possible in order to maintain the integrity of his own voice. The less others heard him, the less confident they would be of who was talking - this way enemies would not be able to duplicate his speaking habits, nor would they be able to deduce other information from listening to his voice alone. Benai was serious in his work as a specialist of the darker path of living. Everything from dirty fighting, to knowledge on how to break in and enter, knowledge on poisons and venom, the ability of acting and the psychological dissection of the human behavior. His studies encompassed all pertinent areas for his vocation.

Such was to be expected of a direct disciple of Fang Mu, who only showed approval for the freakishly talented.

While Benai found it important to train a disciple, and thus speak more than usual, he still pawned off the poison training to Xiang Li in the end. Xiang Li furrowed his brow, finding the sheer number of poisons to be the primary bottleneck in this task set down before him. "I can do this. It will be a while before everything is set."

Benai nodded and left just as quickly as he arrived. With only a brief wave of his hand he had indicated for Bai Xue'er to remain. With a short bow and a brief clasp of hangs, Bai Xue'er sent him off with a pleasant smile before returning her attention to Xiang Li.

For his part, Xiang Li was already well aware of the situation of the four newcomers to the mercenary camp. "We will begin with what you already know. Write down the poisons you are aware of, their properties and ingredients that you are aware of, and any cures that you can think of. Include the same for the cures. Ah, how many do you already know?" Xiang Li spoke, almost as if an afterthought.

Noticing that his requirements were higher than Benai's shocked her for a moment. Bai Xue'er thought for a moment before responding. "Thirty seven poisons, their ingredients and cures, of the basic type. Fifteen of the same for journeyman poisons, and only three master poisons... without information on their cures. No grand-master poisons." With Xiang Li nodding and passing her parchment, she immediately sat down at a desk and began to write.

Xiang Li continued on with his own things. Before he even began to work on Bai Xue'er's training he first had to know and understand her level of achievement in the field. Xiang Li wanted to ensure she had the same type of mastery over poisons that Benai had shown over infiltration earlier in the day, hence his intention of making her aware of the cures. He further intended to include alternate methods of the use of poisons, such as fighting other poisons off with poisons or even to fight off diseases with poisons. It was a well known saying that the difference between poison and medicine could oftentimes be the differences of dose.

During the time she wrote, Xiang Li refined two pills and a vial of medicine. The three distinct medicinal scents wafted through the room. Of the three, one of them caused relaxation. Bai Xue'er barely paid attention, as she was assiduosly writing down what she knew. The sound of boiling ingredients and the sound of writing complemented each other and gave the room in its entirety a scholarly feeling. Hours had passed when she was done, and a small stack of papers was the result of this time spent. A small sigh of relief was let loose, as she had been focused during the entire time. "What would you like me to do now?"

Xiang Li briefly flipped through the pages. "You may leave for the day. I'll read through this in full and then we'll discuss the rest." Starting back from the beginning, Xiang Li began reading once more. The parts he was interested in were not the recipes themselves, at least not for the more simple ones, but the understanding Bai Xue'er had over the ingredients and their effects. The corresponding antidotes, or cures, needed to work as well. There were some antidotes that, when used with against a poison incorrectly, could cause the situation to become worse. General use antidotes were normally specifically made so they would not transform into a poison when used to treat toxins. On one hand, these were fairly useful to stop many simple poisons. On the other hand, they were too weak to use for the stronger poisons.

Thus the ingredient choices for the cures was always an important part of treating a particular poison. Knowing this intricate degree of balance allowed a poison maker to keep these cures in mind and create a counter to the cures in their creation process. This is how complex poisons are born, thus giving them a higher degree of success rate when used on an enemy.



Bai Xue'er left with a gentle smile on her face and began looking around the camp once more, but this time it wasn't to dissect and analyze the layout of the military camp. Instead, it was to search for her friends. She took no steps to hide her presence, and was often times stopped by various soldiers to make small talk. Truthfully there were many who liked her, but most of those who did knew that she was already dating somebody. Those who didn't and confessed to her were turned down gently. The sun was starting to set. Given that she hadn't found them yet, she figured they were likely out and about training.

Bai Xue'er approached the stables and borrowed four horses. It was likely they had left on foot, and if she wanted to cover ground fast then horses would be the best way to do so... And with each additional person she found, she would need to supply another horse so they could all move quickly. Reigning in four horses at once was no simple matter, and drastically reduced her speed as she kept them tied together. Night had already set, and Bai Xue'er was coming across one of the grounds that was being used by one of her friends. Smiling, she called out. "Lian Ling, you look like you've been working hard!"

The Magician, Lian Ling, looked up when being called out to. She nodded towards Bai Xue'er before standing up and gazing at the four horses. Raising an eyebrow, she questioned Bai Xue'er. "So, you plan on gathering us all up then?" As she spoke she walked around the field and began reattaching the blade sheets to her clothing. It was a somewhat lengthy process, however it was finished within tens of minutes. It was always more difficult to set it up than it was to let it loose.

"Yes. It just so happens I came across you first... You're sweating. Need some water?" A corked flagon was thrown her way, followed by a hand towel to wipe herself down. There were small packs on each of the horses - Bai Xue'er had come prepared to relieve them of their training.

Lian Ling wordlessly accepted the objects, first taking a deep drink from the flagon and then using the remainder to soak her head in the cool water. The towel helped dry her off afterwards. Finishing up, she put the towel and flagon away on the horse's saddle pack and mounted one of the others. With the two, it would be much easier to control the four horses. Leading only one extra horse a person was a simple matter for the two, who had been receiving horseback riding instructions ever since they joined.

When they finally arrived before Chang Jun and Chang Yun the two were sitting upon the ground with their backs against one another. Heavy breathing showed their exhaustion, as both no doubt put up an arduous fight. When they heard the hooves of the horses approaching, they glanced to the side. There weren't many people out in this area, so the two of them knew it was likely somebody from the military camp. Seeing who it was, they both smiled and stood up. The symmetrical actions done by the twins would put anyone in for a loop, yet the two women knew which was which due to the way their armor was worn. It was only a minor difference, yet it was the differing personalities that gave such distinction which outside eyes would fail to catch.

The chilly night air lifted the spirits of all four, cleansing their exhaustion and giving rise to a feeling of a second wind. Chang Yun spoke up. "Ah, there is a nice place that we can go to for a bit before going back to the camp, if you're interested... It's a valley not too far from here." He mostly wanted to show Bai Xue'er, and watch the stars beside her... As a romantic night. Still, he did not see any reason to not invite his brother and Lian Ling, too. They could always split up for a time and then head back when they wanted to, after all.

"Yes, that sounds relaxing. Some time away from camp, at least." Lian Ling was the first to respond. She looked towards Chang Jun as she responded to Chang Yun; the camp was hardly a place for privacy, and time away from the soldiers and officers of the mercenary camps was not something she often spent with Chang Jun.

There were no words of disagreement, so all four set off.

---

Eh? This doesn't sound like Grandfather at all. I wonder who he is? A thief maybe? Fang Vardreth didn't continue to stare at Shu Jie Long for long. The man obviously had ill intentions, and insulted him to boot. Either way, Vardreth intended to test the waters and attack the man before him. Energy still pulsated through his body and coursed through his sword, allowing Vardreth to continue his flight. Vardreth did not for a moment consider the man to actually have some connection to his family, so aside from a distaste for the person before him Vardreth did not show much irrationality nor hatred from the taunting.

When Shu Jie Long saw Vardreth's sudden rush forward he knew that a fight was unavoidable. The indifference on Vardreth's face surprised him for a moment before he figured the man simply had a strong will. Backing off, Jie Long used his own flight spell to keep distance from Vardreth while preparing his next move. His opponent was a swordsman, so theoretically he would be safer if he kept some distance between the two. His decision was a timely one, as well, considering he had barely dodged Vardreth's blade as he began flying.

Vardreth's brows furrowed. His momentary lapse in flight caused a distance to appear between the two, and both flew at the same speed. This made it impossible for him to catch up, and gave him an inherent disadvantage. While being frustrated at the distance between the two a shiver ran down his spine. He noticed something good; his blade had another function to it, and that was to elongate his strikes and help him guide thrown weapons. Vardreth channeled more of his magoi into the weapon, activating its Tooth and Nail, and struck out with his weapon. The attack immediately showed results as energy quickly coated his weapon and flowed out when he swung.

The energy clearly mimicked the sharpness of the blade. Shu Jie Long quickly dodged to the side, however this dodge only got him out of the way of the first strike. Subsequent strikes were continually thrown from Vardreth's blade, allowing the warrior to slowly cut better lines of pursuit against his foe by controlling his escape directions. Slowly Shu Jie long would find himself closer and closer to the opponent he wished to keep distance from. Throughout this entire time he felt stifled, unable to strike back, and frustrated. Growling a word of spell, Shu Jie Long brandished his staff and focused. The cold air condensed around the two and one of Vardreth's strikes landed upon a large block of ice that now separated the two.

Frowning, Vardreth sent a few more slashes at the wall. They all went in fairly deep, however it would take longer to cut through the wall than it would take to fly over it. Making a quick decision, Vardreth decided to take the route of flying over. His face was downcast a moment later as he reached the summit of the ice wall. As expected. He has put much more distance between us. Vardreth looked behind Shu Jie Long, only to see even further out the familiar silhouttes of four individuals on horses. He carefully controlled his face. What... Are they doing here? Inwardly he was quite shocked. Vardreth paused where he was, trying to decide upon what to do next.


OOC:
Stamina: 440/440
Magoi: 255/390
WC: 4100+/4000

Ability trained:

Abilities Used: